Device and method for a dynamically configurable user interface in a game of chance

ABSTRACT

The device and method of the present invention configures a gaming device so that an input device receiving input in one game state to be interpreted and applied according to one input state is reconfigured so that input received in a different game state is interpreted and applied according to a different input state. In an optional embodiment, multiple different input devices may be reconfigured to provide the same input in one or more game states. Also in optional embodiment, a set of input devices of a cardinality in one game state may be reconfigured into a set of input devices of different cardinality in another game state.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims the priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/677,513, entitled “Device and Method for UserInterface in Games of Chance,” filed May 3, 2005 by Applicant herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic gaming systems and devices.More particularly, the present invention is a method and system in whichan input interface is reconfigurable to a primary input during thecourse of a game, thereby allowing players to input certain selectionsfaster and easier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

User interface is a critical component to the success of an electronicgaming system. There are two major factors that come into play. A playermay be unlikely to even play a game whose user interface is tooconfusing. Similarly, a confusing experience, though overcome, may stillleave the player feeling insecure. Another factor is one of ergonomics.The more effort and movement required by a player to continue playing,the more likely such a player will end their play session early.

There are some techniques used in electronic gaming systems to addressthese user interface concerns. One such technique would be to put usercontrol buttons close to one another to minimize the amount of hand orpointer movement the player has to make to move between the lastselection and the next one. Another technique is to somehow brighten,color or highlight buttons that the game designer wishes to encouragethe player to notice and use. Another technique is to place the mostimportant button in the most convenient place relative to the otherbuttons. For an electronic game with a touch-screen interface, thisoften would be the right-most position closest to the player's righthand.

These techniques, however, are limited or made more difficult by thefact that the relative use of game buttons often changes as the gameprogresses through multiple game states. For example, the game buttonsto control initial wagers may be essential prior to the start of a game,but unused after the play commences. The Hold/Discard game buttons in adraw poker game are not needed until after wagering completes, but thenbecome essential.

In order to take such variability of importance into account, onetechnique would be to employ reconfigurable game buttons where thefunction and labeling of a given game button may be altered as the phaseof the game changes. For example, a game may continually offer themost-used or most desirable function at the right edge of the controlbar at the bottom of the screen, with such game button displayed in adistinct bright color such as gold.

In a game like Three Card Poker, the rightmost game button would changefunction and label based on the step of the game. After a game has beenplayed, and before the next game is begun, this game button functions asREBET. Once a bet is placed, the game button becomes DEAL. Once the dealbegins and the player must make play decisions, the game button is PLAY.Other play decision game buttons, such as FOLD, are placed proximal tothe REBET/DEAL/PLAY game button to reduce the distance between such gamebuttons as are typically used in sequence, and hence the effort requiredfor the player to move his cursor from where it originally was(typically over the DEAL game button when the game is started) to whereit needs to be for the player to input the desired selection.

Usually, the last game button input a player makes in the Three CardPoker game is either FOLD or PLAY. If the player last chose PLAY, thenthe cursor will already be positioned for to click REBET without beingmoved. If the player has reason to believe that the cursor has not movedsince clicking PLAY, the player does not even need to look at theposition of the cursor to know it is properly placed to click the nextgame button. If the player last chose FOLD, the player will have to movethe cursor to be positioned to subsequently click the rightmost gamebutton (REBET) to continue play. The distance to move the cursor will,however, be minimized.

As the exigencies of the game vary from game step to game step, theexpected sequence of game buttons to be selected may vary. Thus in orderto continue to improve the ergonomic efficiency of a game by minimizingcursor movement or effort required for user input selection, it can beseen that there is a need in the art for a method and device whichinclude an input device that is reconfigurable throughout the play of agame to ease the selection of game options by a player. Furthermore, asthe number of relevant game buttons may vary between game states, inimplementations where it is technically feasible, there is a need to beable to reconfigure one set of game buttons to a second set of gamebuttons of unlike cardinality, e.g. 1-to-n or n-to-1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method for dynamically reconfiguring an inputdevice for different input states depending upon game state. The presentinvention also includes a device with one or more reconfigurable inputdevices. According to the present invention, a single input device canhave different effects during the course of a game. That is, accordingto the present invention, an input device may be dynamicallyreconfigured for different input states to provide different input to agame depending upon the game state of a game of chance when the inputdevice is actuated.

According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, a gamingdevice for conducting a game of chance with multiple game statesincludes an electronic display, an input device receiving user input,and a processor in communication with the display and the input device.The processor is adapted to execute instructions to conduct a gamehaving at least two game states. Two or more input states are correlatedto different game states and the input device is adapted to reconfigurebetween the different input states. In this manner, user input receivedat the input device in a game state is interpreted by the processoraccording to the input state associated with that game state. Morespecifically, user input received at the input device in one game stateis interpreted by the processor according to the input state associatedwith that one game state, whereas user input received at the inputdevice in a different game state is interpreted by the processoraccording to the input state associated with that different game state.It is noted that the present invention may include multiple inputdevices, with each the input device adapted to reconfigure between oramong different input states correlated to different game states.

For example, in one optional embodiment, a gaming device conducts atleast one game of chance having a plurality of game states. The gamingdevice includes at least one input device receiving user inputcommunicating with a processor.

The input device has at least one input button adapted to dynamicallyreconfigure between at least two different input states. The inputdevice may include mechanical buttons, display buttons, or the like. Inone optional embodiment including mechanical buttons, the mechanicalbuttons may include indicia for each input state and an illuminationdevice for each indicia. In such an optional embodiment, the processoris adapted to selectively illuminate indicia for an input statecorrelated to a game state during the game of chance.

In another optional embodiment, the input device may include at leastone display button at the display. In such an optional embodiment, thedata structure may store a display button image for each input state andthe processor directs the display of a display button for an input statecorrelated to a game state during the game of chance. The displaybuttons could take many different forms. In one optional embodiment, thedisplay button image for each input state is substantially the samedimensions when displayed on the display. In another optionalembodiment, the data structure stores at least one large display buttonimage and at least two small display button images that aresubstantially the same dimensions as the large display button image whendisplayed simultaneously adjacent to one another on the display.

As noted above, a processor is in communication with the one inputdevice(s) and a data structure communicating with the processor. Thedata structure stores correlations between the input states and the gamestates and instructions executable by the processor to conduct the gameof chance. User input received at the input device at one game state ofthe game of chance is interpreted by the processor according to an inputstate correlated to that game state and user input received at the inputdevice at a different game state of the game of chance is interpreted bythe processor according to an input state correlated to that differentgame state.

In an optional embodiment, the processor is remote from the inputdevice. In such an optional embodiment, the input device is incommunication with a terminal processor. The terminal processorcommunicates with a terminal communication device which, in turn,communicates with a host communication device. Optionally, the terminalcommunication device and host communication device communicate through acomputer network, such as a local area network (“LAN”), wide areanetwork (“WAN”), or Internet. The processor communicates with the hostcommunication device.

The present invention also includes a method. According to an embodimentof the present invention, a method for conducting a game of chancehaving a plurality of game states includes providing an input devicereceiving user input. At least two different input states are definedwith each input state associated with different effects in the game ofchance. Each input state is correlated to at least one game state in thegame of chance. The game of chance is conducted. User input is receivedat the input device during the game of chance. The user input effectsthe game of chance according to the effect associated with the inputstate correlated to the game state at the point when the user input isreceived. In this manner, user input received at the input device duringgame states correlated to different input states effects the game ofchance differently.

The input device could take many different forms. In one optionalembodiment, the input device is a mechanical button including indiciafor each input state. In such an optional embodiment, the method furtherincludes selectively illuminating indicia for an input state correlatedto a game state during the game of chance.

In another optional embodiment, the input device is a display button. Insuch an optional embodiment, the method further includes storing adisplay button image for each input state. A display button image isdisplayed for an input state correlated to a game state during the gameof chance. Optionally, the display button image for each input state issubstantially the same dimensions when displayed on the display. Inanother optional embodiment, at least one of the display button imagesis a large display button image and at least two of the display buttonimages are small display button images that are substantially the samedimensions as the large display button image when displayedsimultaneously adjacent to one another on the display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a state diagram of a game state transition from a singleinput state to a multiple inputs state according to an optionalembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a state diagram of a game state transition from a multipleinputs state to a single input state according to an optional embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a game button configuration associated with a stateaccording to an optional embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a game button configuration associated with a differentstate of the game buttons of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C shows a game button configuration associated with a differentstate of the game buttons of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a game device according to an optionalembodiment of the present invention with mechanical game buttons showingmultiple states;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a game device according to the optionalembodiment of FIG. 4 with mechanical game buttons in a game state;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of a game device according to the optionalembodiment of FIG. 4 with mechanical game buttons in an alternate gamestate;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a game device according to an optionalembodiment of the invention with mechanical and display game buttons ina game state;

FIG. 8 shows a front view of a game device according to the optionalembodiment of FIG. 7 with mechanical and display game buttons in analternate game state.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. The present invention is a device andmethod for reconfiguring an input device according to the step of a gamebeing played. It is noted that the present invention could be directedfor use with any game and the examples given below should not beconstrued as limiting. It is also noted that the present inventionencompasses any form of input device including the display and buttonsillustrated in the figures, as well as any other form of input deviceincluding, but not limited to, mechanical button, display button,touchscreen, controllers, mice, keypads, keyboards, pointers, joysticks,or any other device receiving input from a user.

The present invention is a method and device directed for use for anygame of chance having at least two game states. It is noted that thegame states may be defined in any manner. At least two input states aredefined and correlated to game states. Input states define how inputreceived at an input device is to be interpreted in the game of chanceat the correlated game state. Thus, as each game state is reached, theinput state associated with that game state is enabled and the inputdevice may be reconfigured so that the input called for in the inputstate are prompted.

According to the present invention, the input device is reconfigured toreceive input during the multiple steps of a game, using a single inputdevice or instrumentation for multiple distinct input purposes oreffects throughout the course of a game. More specifically, an inputdevice is adapted to reconfigure between at least two different inputstates. Each input state is correlated to a game state. In this manner,user input received at the input device in any game state is interpretedaccording to the input state associated with that game state. Thus, userinput received at the input device in one game state is interpretedaccording to the input state associated with that one game state,whereas user input received at the input device in a different gamestate is interpreted according to the input state associated with thatdifferent game state.

For example, when playing a card game offering the player two or moreplay choices, such as in the case of Three Card Poker having a FOLD orPLAY input during the play of a hand, and at least one wager input priorto commencement of the play of the hand, each step of play wouldreconfigure at least one input game button to facilitate the entry ofsuch player's choice or choices as may be associated with the step inprogress. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in optional embodiments where it istechnically feasible, the reconfiguration may redefine a set of n gamebuttons as a set of m game buttons, where n is unequal to m.

In such an implementation, illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and discussed ingreater detail later, an interface for Three Card Poker incorporatingthe present invention could include reconfiguring mechanical gamebuttons 737, 738 used for selection of a FOLD 737 or PLAY 738 selectionat a game state during the play of a hand (shown in FIG. 7) intomechanical game buttons 737, 738 used for selection of a REBET 737, 738selection at a game state following completion of the play of a hand(shown in FIG. 8). Similarly, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an optionalembodiment in which display game buttons 727, 728 used for selection ofa FOLD 727 or PLAY 738 selection at a game state during the play of ahand are reconfigured to a single display game button 827 used forselection of a REBET 827 selection at a game state following completionof the play of a hand. In this manner, the player could effect a FOLD orPLAY input during the game and a REBET input after the game withoutrepositioning his finger or pointing device. In an alternate optionalembodiment, the reconfiguration could effectuate a REDEAL input whichwould activate a new game using the same wager as the prior game,combining a REBET and a DEAL input. In an alternate optional embodiment,such as in jurisdictions which require the player to actively collectany prize awarded to them, the input after an award event could bereconfigured to permit a COLLECT input.

It is noted that the present invention could be applied to any inputdevice, whether that input device is mechanical, electronic, or anyother type of input device. Thus, even though FIGS. 4-6 illustrate anoptional embodiment in which the input device includes mechanicalbuttons, and FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an optional embodiment in whichthe input device includes mechanical buttons and display buttons, it iscontemplated that other types of inputs could be used in the presentinvention, including, specifically, an optional embodiment using onlydisplay buttons.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 4-6, the present invention could beapplied to a gaming device having mechanical game buttons that haveindicia to identify the input state and an illumination device, such asa lamp, light, light emitting diode (“LED”), or the like, to illuminateor highlight the indicia corresponding to the input state at thatparticular game state. That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, theinput device could include one or more mechanical buttons with differentindicia (text areas in this example) that can be independently lightedor highlighted to reflect the reconfiguration of the input device.

In alternate embodiments, not shown, a mechanical game button may changeits display of indicia, or of illumination of indicia, under computercontrol. Similarly, in an alternate optional embodiment (not shown), thecolor of a mechanical game button may be changed to reflect areconfiguration of input options. In yet another optional embodiment(not shown), the reconfiguration status of mechanical game buttons maybe indicated on a display device in such a way that the player mayreadily determine the purpose and effect of such game buttons.Optionally, the display area may be proximal to the game buttons. It iscontemplated that an embodiment may include two or more input devices,such as multiple game buttons, which share a similar text or display toindicate that any of these input devices could provide the same input.Such implementation may be effective for implementations utilizing, forexample, a PC connected to a server or the Internet for execution of agaming event which employs remote processing or other interface.

FIG. 1 illustrates a state diagram of a game state transition from asingle input state 101 to a multiple input state 102 according to anoptional embodiment of the present invention. In this optionalembodiment, the input game button could be reconfigurable betweenutilization for a single input and utilization for multiple inputs. Forexample, in one optional embodiment, a single input game button could bereconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input gamebuttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable inputgame button may be replaced by a plurality of input game buttons. FIG. 2shows a state diagram of a game state transition from a multiple inputstate 201 to a single input state 202 according to another optionalembodiment. It is noted that the game states, and the correspondinginput states, may be cyclical, i.e. cycle between or among two or morestates, or may be non-cyclical, i.e. linear, branching, or the like,depending upon the game of chance.

Turning to FIGS. 3A-3C, an optional embodiment of dynamicreconfiguration of an input device, in this case display buttons, toprovide input appropriate to several different game states illustrated.Within each such state user an input device in the form of a displaybutton panel 301 associated with that state are displayed. Thisembodiment includes a prewager state (shown in FIG. 3A), a predeal state(shown in FIG. 3B), and a game play state (shown in FIG. 3C). Each ofthe states features a Help game button 305 in a fixed location. Thus, inthis optional embodiment, the Help game button 305 undergoes noreconfiguration. In the prewager state of FIG. 3A, there is areconfigurable REBET game button 307, which occupies an areasubstantially equivalent to the area occupied by multiple input gamebuttons, i.e. a FOLD game button 327 and PLAY game button 328, in FIG.3C. The prewager state of FIG. 3A also includes two smaller input gamebuttons, HELP 305 and BET 1 306. In this example, according to theunderlying game of chance, the BET 1 game button 306 is only used in theprewager state of FIG. 3A, and reconfigures in the other two statesshown in FIGS. 3B and 3C to provide no function or effect in those gamestates.

Continuing with the example, the predeal state of FIG. 3B has a DEALgame button 317 as well as a HELP game button 305. The HELP game button305 is carried over from the prewager state shown in FIG. 3A, and theDEAL game button 317 in the predeal state of FIG. 3B is areconfiguration of the REBET game buttons 307 in the prewager stateshown in FIG. 3A and occupies the same location. Optionally, asillustrated, the reconfigurable REBET game button 307 and DEAL gamebutton 317 may be displayed in a highlighted form to be more noticeableto the player.

In the optional embodiment illustrated, the location allocated to theREBET game button 307 in the prewager state of FIG. 3A and the DEAL gamebutton 317 in the predeal state of FIG. 3B is reconfigured in the gameplay state of FIG. 3C as two game buttons, a FOLD game button 327 and aPLAY game button 328, along with the HELP game button 305 which is notreconfigured between game states. That is, the HELP game button 305 iscarried over through each game state in this example. The FOLD gamebutton 327 and the PLAY game button 328 of the game play state of FIG.3C together occupy the same space as the REBET game button 307 of theprewager state of FIG. 3A or the DEAL game button 317 of the predealstate of FIG. 3B. It should be noted that, while FIGS. 3A-3C show thereconfigured game buttons occupying the same size and shape in eachreconfiguration, this limitation is not necessary to this invention andthe reconfigured game buttons could occupy larger, smaller, ordifferently-shaped areas in each reconfiguration while remaining withinthe scope and spirit of this invention.

The game illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 includes two game states, a predealstate, which includes wager information, and a game play state. FIG. 4illustrates an optional embodiment consisting of a gaming device 402comprising a processor 406, a display 404, optionally a video display,an input device comprising a mechanical game button panel 430, and oneor more areas for identifying other game information such as wagers 440placed and awards 442 collected. It is noted that in this optionalembodiment, the input device communicates with the data processor 406and the data processor 406 interprets user input received at the inputdevice depending upon game state, as described in greater detail below.In an optional embodiment, the processor 406 may be in communicationwith a data structure storing instructions for the conduct of the gameof chance along with the input states correlated with game states. Inthis manner, when a game state is reached, the appropriate input stateis used by the processor 406 to interpret user input received at theinput device.

The mechanical game button panel 430 may include non-reconfigurableinput game buttons 431, 432, i.e. game buttons that do not havedifferent input states depending upon game state, in addition toreconfigurable input game buttons 437, 438, i.e. game buttons that dohave different input states depending upon game state. In this optionalexample, one portion 451, 453 of the reconfigurable game buttons 437,438 display visual attributes, in this case indicia, associated with apredeal game state while another portion 452, 454 of the reconfigurablegame buttons 437, 438 display indicia associated with a differentpost-play game state. In one embodiment, there is includes no speciallighting in or on the mechanical game buttons 437 438 to indicate theconfiguration status of the game buttons. In such an optionalembodiment, the input state could be determined by the player based upongame context or indicated by messaging in the game display area 408. Inan other optional embodiment, the portion of the game buttons 437 withthe visual attribute, e.g. indicia, color, graphic, or the like,identifying the input state is illuminated, highlighted, or otherwisesignified during each game state associated with that input state.

Thus, in the optional embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, eachreconfigurable game button 437, 438 includes an illumination device, orother illumination means, to highlight the indicia identifying the inputstate 551, 553, 652, 654 enabled for that game state. Specifically, inthe example of FIG. 5, the text indicating the input state of gamebutton 437 for FOLD 551 is highlighted and the text indicating the inputstate of game button 438 for CALL 553 is highlighted while the disabledREDEAL 452, 454 input states of the game buttons 437, 438 are dimmed orunilluminated. In FIG. 6 the text indicating the input state of bothgame buttons 437, 438 for REDEAL 652, 654 are highlighted while thedisabled FOLD 451 and CALL 453 input states of the game buttons 437, 438are dimmed or unilluminated.

In this example, the game state of FIG. 6 includes redundant gamebuttons 437, 438, that is, game buttons that are correlated to the sameinput state. In other words, at the game state of FIG. 6, user inputreceived at either game button 437, 438 would be interpreted as the sameuser input, a REDEAL in this example. This is contrasted from thepreceding game state of FIG. 5 where the game buttons 437, 428 arecorrelated to different input states so that user input received at thegame buttons 437, 438 would be interpreted as different user input, aFOLD or a CALL, respectively, in this example. It is noted that each ofthese game state-input state correlations could be used separately ortogether within the scope of the present invention.

It is also noted that in this example, the game state of FIG. 6 occursbetween games whereas the game state of FIG. 5 occurs during a game. Itis contemplated that game states at any point during the conduct of agame of chance, or a series of games of chance, and the input states maysimilarly receive user input during conduct of a game of chance, orbetween games of chance.

An alternate optional embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 thatincludes reconfigurable mechanical game buttons 737, 738 andreconfigurable display game buttons 727, 728, 827 such as mouse fields,touchscreen buttons, or other displayed, rather than physical, buttons.In this optional embodiment the display area 704 may include an area 708in which to display standard video game information and a display buttonpanel 720 for the display and operation of reconfigurable display gamebuttons 727, 728, 827. In the optional embodiment illustrated, suchdisplay game buttons 727, 728, 827 are part of the input device andreceive input directly by the player such as by touch, a mouse, apointer, or other input. In alternate optional embodiments (not shown),such display game buttons might be for display only with thecorresponding mechanical game buttons being the sole input device. Inthe optional embodiment illustrated, non-reconfigurable display gamebuttons 721, 722, i.e. game buttons that do not change input statesdepending upon game state, may be displayed along with thereconfigurable display game buttons 727, 728, 827. In alternate optionalembodiments, more, or less, display game buttons may be utilized, andsuch game buttons may include only reconfigurable display game buttons,only non-reconfigurable display game buttons, or both.

Turning to the optional embodiment of FIG. 7, a game state associatedwith FOLD and CALL input states are enabled. Thus, in the game state ofFIG. 7, the FOLD game button 727 and the CALL game button 728 aredisplayed and actuating the FOLD button 727 or CALL button 728 would beinterpreted in accord with those input states. In FIG. 8 a differentgame state is illustrated in which the FOLD button 727 and CALL button728 has been reconfigured as a REDEAL game button 827. This REDEAL gamebutton 827 occupies the same screen area in the game state of FIG. 8 aswould be occupied by both the FOLD game button 727 and the CALL gamebutton 728 in the game state of FIG. 7. In alternate optionalembodiments, the REDEAL game button 827 may be displayed to occupy thearea of only the FOLD game button 727 or the CALL game button 728, ormay occupy a totally different area instead. Such variation is withinthe spirit and scope of the invention being described.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed it is to be understood that the present invention is subjectto many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention presented herein.

1. A gaming device comprising: an electronic display; an input devicereceiving user input; and a processor in communication with said displayand said input device, said processor adapted to execute instructions toconduct a game of chance having at least two game states and said inputdevice adapted to reconfigure between at least two different inputstates, each input state correlated to a game state such that user inputreceived at said input device in a game state is interpreted by theprocessor according to the input state associated with that game state.2. The device of claim 1 comprising at least two input devices, eachsaid input device adapted to reconfigure between at least two differentinput states, each input state correlated to a game state such that userinput received at said input device in a game state is interpreted bythe processor according to the input state associated with that gamestate.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein at least two of said inputdevices are configured such that in at least one game state, at leasttwo of said input devices are correlated to the same input state suchthat user input received at any of said at least two input devices isinterpreted as the same user input by said processor.
 4. The device ofclaim 2 wherein at least two of said input devices are configured suchthat (a) in at least one game state, at least two of said input devicesare correlated to the same input state such that user input received atany of said at least two input devices is interpreted as the same userinput by said processor and (b) in at least one other game state, saidat least two input devices are correlated to different input states suchthat user input received at any of said at least two input devices isinterpreted as different user input by said processor.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said input device is configured with one or more visibleattributes associated with each input state, said input device adaptedto alter its visible attributes to indicate the input state for whichsaid input device is configured.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein saidgame states include at least one game state during conduct of said gameof chance and at least one game state between conduct of consecutivegames of chance, and wherein said input device is configured such thatat least one of said input states is correlated to a game stateoccurring during conduct of said game of chance and at least one of saidinput states is correlated to a game state occurring between consecutivegames of chance.
 7. A gaming device comprising: an electronic display;an input device receiving user input; and a processor in communicationwith said display and said input device, said processor including a datastructure storing instructions to conduct a game of chance having atleast two game states and at least two different input states, each saidinput state correlated to a game state, said input device adapted toreconfigure between said at least two different input states such thatuser input received at said input device in one game state isinterpreted by said processor according to the input state associatedwith that one game state, whereas user input received at said inputdevice in a different game state is interpreted by said processoraccording to the input state associated with that different game state.8. The device of claim 7 comprising at least two input devices, eachsaid input device adapted to reconfigure between at least two differentinput states, each input state correlated to a game state such that userinput received at said input device in a game state is interpreted bythe processor according to the input state associated with that gamestate.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein at least two of said inputdevices are configured such that in at least one game state, at leasttwo of said input devices are correlated to the same input state suchthat user input received at any of said at least two input devices isinterpreted as the same user input by said processor.
 10. The device ofclaim 8 wherein at least two of said input devices are configured suchthat (a) in at least one game state, at least two of said input devicesare correlated to the same input state such that user input received atany of said at least two input devices is interpreted as the same userinput by said processor and (b) in at least one other game state, saidat least two input devices are correlated to different input states suchthat user input received at any of said at least two input devices isinterpreted as different user input by said processor.
 11. The device ofclaim 7 wherein said input device is configured with one or more visibleattributes associated with each input state, said input device adaptedto alter its visible attributes to indicate the input state for whichsaid input device is configured.
 12. The device of claim 7 wherein saidgame states include at least one game state during conduct of said gameof chance and at least one game state between conduct of consecutivegames of chance, and wherein said input device is configured such thatat least one of said input states is correlated to a game stateoccurring during conduct of said game of chance and at least one of saidinput states is correlated to a game state occurring between consecutivegames of chance.
 13. A gaming device for conducting at least one game ofchance having a plurality of game states comprising: at least one inputdevice receiving user input, said input device having at least one inputbutton adapted to dynamically reconfigure between at least two differentinput states with one or more visible attributes associated with eachinput state, said input device adapted to alter its visible attributesto indicate the input state for which said input device is configured; aprocessor in communication with said at least one input device; and adata structure in communication with said processor, said data structurestoring correlations between said input states and said game states andinstructions executable by said processor to conduct said game of chancesuch that user input received at said input device at one game state ofsaid game of chance is interpreted by said processor according to aninput state correlated to that one game state and user input received atsaid input device at a different game state of said game of chance isinterpreted by said processor according to an input state correlated tothat different game state.
 14. The gaming device of claim 13 whereinsaid input device includes at least one mechanical button.
 15. Thegaming device of claim 14 wherein said mechanical button includesindicia for each input state and an illumination device for eachindicia, said processor adapted to selectively illuminate indicia for aninput state correlated to a game state during said game of chance. 16.The gaming device of claim 13 wherein said input device includes atleast one display button at said display.
 17. The gaming device of claim16 wherein said data structure stores a display button image for eachinput state, said processor adapted to display a display button for aninput state correlated to a game state during said game of chance. 18.The gaming device of claim 17 wherein said display button image for eachinput state is substantially the same dimensions when displayed on saiddisplay.
 19. The gaming device of claim 17 wherein said data structurestores at least one large display button image and at least two smalldisplay button images that are substantially the same dimensions as saidlarge display button image when displayed simultaneously adjacent to oneanother on said display.
 20. The gaming device of claim 13 furthercomprising: a terminal processor in communication with said inputdevice; a terminal communication device in communication with saidterminal processor; and a host communication device in communicationwith said terminal communication device and said processor, such thatsaid input device is remote from said processor.
 21. The gaming deviceof claim 20 wherein said host communication device and said terminalcommunication device are adapted to communicate through a computernetwork.
 22. The device of claim 13 comprising a plurality of inputdevices, wherein at least two of said input devices are configured suchthat in at least one game state, at least two of said input devices arecorrelated to the same input state such that user input received at anyof said at least two input devices is interpreted as the same user inputby said processor.
 23. The device of claim 13 comprising a plurality ofinput devices, wherein at least two of said input devices are configuredsuch that (a) in at least one game state, at least two of said inputdevices are correlated to the same input state such that user inputreceived at any of said at least two input devices is interpreted as thesame user input by said processor and (b) in at least one other gamestate, said at least two input devices are correlated to different inputstates such that user input received at any of said at least two inputdevices is interpreted as different user input by said processor. 24.The device of claim 13 wherein said game states include at least onegame state during conduct of said game of chance and at least one gamestate between conduct of consecutive games of chance, and wherein saidinput device is configured such that at least one of said input statesis correlated to a game state occurring during conduct of said game ofchance and at least one of said input states is correlated to a gamestate occurring between consecutive games of chance.
 25. A method forconducting a game of chance having a plurality of game statescomprising: providing an input device receiving user input; defining atleast two different input states, each input state associated withdifferent effects in said game of chance; correlating each input stateto at least one game state; conducting said game of chance; andreceiving user input from said input device during said game of chance,said user input effecting said game of chance according to the effectassociated with the input state correlated to the game state at thepoint when the user input is received, such that user input received atsaid input device during game states correlated to different inputstates effects said game of chance differently.
 26. The method of claim25 wherein said input device is a mechanical button including indiciafor each input state, the method further comprising selectivelyilluminating indicia for an input state correlated to a game stateduring said game of chance.
 27. The method of claim 25 wherein saidinput device is a display button, the method further comprising: storinga display button image for each input state; and displaying a displaybutton image for an input state correlated to a game state during saidgame of chance.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said display buttonimage for each input state is substantially the same dimensions whendisplayed on said display.
 29. The method of claim 27 wherein at leastone of said display button images is a large display button image and atleast two of said display button images are small display button imagesthat are substantially the same dimensions as said large display buttonimage when displayed simultaneously adjacent to one another on saiddisplay.
 30. The method of claim 25 wherein a plurality of input devicesare provided, said method further comprising configuring at least two ofsaid input devices such that in at least one game state, at least two ofsaid input devices are correlated to the same input state such that userinput received at any of said at least two input devices is interpretedas the same user input by said processor.
 31. The method of claim 25wherein a plurality of input devices are provided, said method furthercomprising configuring at least two of said input devices such that (a)in at least one game state, at least two of said input devices arecorrelated to the same input state such that user input received at anyof said at least two input devices is interpreted as the same user inputby said processor and (b) in at least one other game state, said atleast two input devices are correlated to different input states suchthat user input received at any of said at least two input devices isinterpreted as different user input by said processor.
 32. The method ofclaim 25 further comprising: associating one or more visible attributesof said input device with each input state; and altering visibleattributes of said input device to indicate the input state for whichsaid input device is configured.
 33. The method of claim 25 wherein saidgame states include at least one game state during conduct of said gameof chance and at least one game state between conduct of consecutivegames of chance, said method further comprising correlating at least oneof said input states to a game state occurring during conduct of saidgame of chance and correlating at least one of said input states to agame state occurring between consecutive games of chance.